San Marcos: With roots in rancho days, town has grown and evolved

Mortar boards with different sayings were all around as about 800 students from the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences graduated in May 2014.

Mortar boards with different sayings were all around as about 800 students from the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences graduated in May 2014. ((Howard Lipin / U-T))

History: The San Marcos Land Co. founded the town in the 1880s as railroad service extended into San Diego County. Dairy, poultry and farming dominated for decades. Lake San Marcos, a subdivision, began in 1962 around the 80-acre lake formed by a dam. It was named best planned community in California in 1966. The biggest event since the city’s 1963 incorporation was the opening of California State University San Marcos in 1989. Fall 2016 enrollment topped 15,000.

How it got its name: The Rancho Vallecitos de San Marcos (“the little valleys of St. Mark”) originated with discovery by Spanish explorers on April 25, 1797, St. Mark the Evangelist’s feast day.

Landmark: The Williams (originally Red) Barn was built in 1952 by Fred and Frances Williams — he was San Marcos’ first volunteer fire chief — and made available for square dancing and other events. It was moved to Heritage Park on Sycamore Drive in 1992 to make way for a new civic center.

Did you know? The 1960 hit “Angel Baby” was recorded by Rosie Hamlin in a former airplane hangar in San Marcos. Greg Evans saw his 5-year-old daughter, Karen, dressed in her mother’s clothes and jewelry in 1984 at their Twin Oaks Valley home and was inspired to create the “Luann” comic strip. In 2012, Karen assumed writing duties while her father carried on the art work.

Things to do: Visit Old California Restaurant Row on West San Marcos Boulevard. Attend the annual Grand Spring Festival & Street Faire in April and the fall version in October.

San Diego's community almanac presented by the San Diego Union-Tribune

San Diego's community almanac presented by the San Diego Union-Tribune